Vacuum actuated clipper construction



Feb. 13, 1968 L. G. VE VEA 3,368,277

VACUUM ACTUATED CLIPPER CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 1, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet J Leo 6. Va Vea INVENTOR.

Feb. 13, 1968 L. G. VE VEA VACUUM ACTUATED CLIPPER CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 1, 1965 L90 6. Va Vea INVENTOR. v

United States Patent 3,368,277 VACUUM ACTUATED CLIPPER CONSTRUCTION Leo G. VeVea, 8327 Fair Oaks Blvd., Carmichael, Calif. 95608 Filed Dec. 1, 1965, Ser. No. 510,930

' 6 Claims. (Cl. 30-133) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A hollow elongated body defining a vacuum passage extending therethrough and including inlet and outlet ends, a clipper assembly including relatively movable and coacting cutting blades removably secured within the body with the cutting blades disposed in the inlet end of the body with the clipper assembly including turbine means consisting of a shaft journaled in the body upon which a bladed turbine wheel is mounted for rotation therewith and drivingly connected to one of the cutting blades of the clipper assembly for oscillating the latter in response to rotation of the shaft.

This invention relates to a novel and useful vacuum actuated clipper construction and more specifically to a clipper construction including a hollow body defining a vacuum passage extending therethrough including an inlet end and an outlet end with the latter being adapted to be communicated with a suitable source of vacuum and a clipper or cutter assembly including a stationary toothed cutting blade and an oscillatory toothed cutting blade disposed in the inlet end of the vacuum passage. In addition, the clipper construction of the instant invention includes a turbine disposed within the body and operatively drivingly connected to the oscillatory toothed cutter blade and the latter is caused to oscillate through a drive connection between the oscillatory cutter blade and the turbine uponrotation of the latter due to a flow of air through the vacuum passage. However, clipper constructions of this type are old and the instant invention resides in several improvements which have been made in this basic type of vacuum actuated clipper construction.

The clipper construction of the instant invention includes novel means by which the turbine and clipper assembly are supported within the vacuum passage. In the instant invention the clipper assembly is supported within the inlet end of the vacuum passage in substantially complete spaced relation relative to the inner surfaces of the body defining the passage in a manner whereby portions of the vacuum passage are disposed on all sides of the clipper assembly and cutting blades thereof with the latter disposed at the inlet end of the passage. By this type of construction, portions of the air passage extending through the body of the clipper construction are disposed on all sides of the cutting blades and therefore any hair cut by the cutting blades is sucked into the vacuum passage extending through the hollow body. Although some of the previously developed vacuum actuated clipper constructions include portions of the air passages thereof disposed adjacent the cutting blades of the clipper construction, the cutting blades have not been disposed completely within the fiow of air into the inlet end of the vacuum passage, and accordingly all hair cut by these previous vacuum actuated clipper constructions was not sucked into the vacuum passage as is the case with the instant invention.

Further, the clipper construction of the instant invention includes a novel manner of mounting the clipper assembly and the turbine within the hollow body of the clipper construction in such a way so as to enable the clipper assembly and the'turbine to be readily removed as an integral unit through the inlet end of the vacuum passage formed in the hollow body of the clipper construction.

Still further, the turbine of the clipper construction of the instant invention which is utilized to drive the clipper assembly is constructed in a manner whereby any hair passing through the vacuum passage in the hollow body will be cut into very short lengths of individual hair strands.

The main object of this invention is to provide an improved vacuum actuated clipper construction including means by which it may be assured that substantially all of the hair cut by the clipper assembly of the clipper construction will be drawn into the vacuum passage of the clipper construction.

Another object of this invention is to provide a vacuum actuated clipper construction including a clipper assembly and air turbine for powering the clipper assembly mounted together as an integral unit and readily removably secured within the hollow body of the clipper construction.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a vacuum actuated clipper construction including a driving turbine operative to cut individual strands of hair passing through the vacuum passage into short lengths of individual hair strands.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a vacuum actuated clipper construction in accordance with the preceding objects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble-free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the vacuum actuated clipper construction of the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken substantially upon a plane indicated by the section line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 44 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 55 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 6-6 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 7 is an exploded perspective view of the body and clipper assembly of the clipper construction with the cutting blades of the clipper assembly removed from the latter;

FIGURE 8 is .a perspective view of the portion of the clipper assembly illustrated in FIGURE 7 but as seen from a differenta'ngle; and

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of a modified form of spider for journaling the end of the turbine shaft remote from the cutter blades of the clipper construction.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings the numeral 10 generally designates the vacuum actuated clipper construction of the instant invention. The clipper construction 10 includes an elongated hollow body generally referred to by the reference numeral 12 defining a vacuum passage 14 extending longitudinally therethrough and including an inlet end 16 and an outlet end 18. From FIGURES 2 and 3 of the drawings it may be seen that the outlet end of the passage 14 includes a terminal end portion 20 which is of reduced cross-sectional area and has an internal circular groove 22 formed therein in which a spider ring 24 is removably disposed, the spider ring 24 including a central bearing journal portion 26 whose purpose will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

A clipper construction generally referred to by the reference numeral 28 is provided and includes a tubular housing generally referred to by the reference numeral 30 removably positionable in the inlet end 16 of the passage 14. The housing 30 includes a pair of right and lefthanded side walls 32 and 34 interconnected at their lower ends by means of a bottom wall 36 and at their upper ends by means of a top wall 38. The bottom wall 36 includes a pair of depending mounting bosses 40 provided with threaded bores 42 and it may be seen from FIGURE 2 of the drawings that the housing 30 may be secured within the inlet end 16 of the passage 14 by means of a pair of fasteners 44 secured through bottom wall 46 of the body 12 and in the bores 42 formed in the depending bosses 40.

From FIGURES 2, 7 and 8 of the drawings it may be seen that the right and left handed side walls 32 and 34 of the housing 30 include portions 48 and 50, respectively defining ribs extending longitudinally of the housing 30 and slidingly receivable between corresponding pairs of upper and lower vertically spaced ribs 52 and 54 carried by each of the side walls 56 of the body 12 and projecting inwardly from the side walls 56. Therefore, the housing 30 may be readily removed from the body 12 by removing the fasteners 44 and sliding the housing 30 outwardly of the inlet end 16 of the passage 14.

The clipper assembly 28 includes a cutter or blade assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 60 comprising a pair of toothed cutting blades 62 and 64. The cutting blade 62 serves as a stationary cutting blade and comprises one leaf of a hinge assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 66. The hinge assembly 66 includes a second leaf 68 which is pivotally supported from the stationary cutting blade 62 by means of a pivot pin 70 and the second leaf 68 is secured to the housing 30 by means of suitable fasteners 72 secured through leaf 68 and in appropriate threaded bores 74 formed in the side walls 32 and 34, see FIGURES 2 and 8.

The cutter blade 64 is disposed in sliding contacting relation with the cutter blade 62 and includes a groove 76 in which a rib 78 formed on the cutter blade 62 is seated. By the coaction of the groove 76 in the rib 78 the cutter blade 64 is supported from the cutter blade 62 for rectilinear reciprocation transversely of the housing 30.

The housing 30 includes a rear end wall '80 having a bore 82 formed therethrough and an elongated lever 84 is pivotally supported, intermediate its opposite ends, with in the housing 30 by means of a pivot fastener or pin 86 secured through the top wall 38. The forward end of the lever 84 includes a terminal end portion 88 of reduced transverse dimensions which is seatingly received in a socket forming boss 90 carried by the reciprocal blade 64. The rear end of the lever 84 includes a rear terminal end portion 92 defining a rearwardly opening and vertically elongated recess 94. The rear wall 80 includes a cylindrical extension 80, see FIGURE 3, through which the bore 82 is continued and a bladed stator turbine wheel 98 is secured on the extension 80' against rotation relative thereto. The stator wheel 98 includes blades 100 which are tapered in thickness toward the forward end of the passage 14.

A turbine shaft 102 is disposed within the passage 14 and has its rear end journaled in the journal or journal portion 20 and its forward end journaled in the bore 82. A second turbine wheel 104 is mounted on the shaft 102 for rotation therewith and includes blades 106.

The forward end of the shaft 102 includes an eccentrically positioned crank pin portion 108 having an en- Cir 4 larged head portion 110 on its free end captively disposed within the recess 94. The blades and 106 are oppositely inclined relative to the center axis of the shaft 102. Further, the rear end portion of the turbine wheel 104 includes a diametrically reduced terminal end portion 112 which is snugly received within the terminal end portion 20 of the passage 14.

Upon communicating the rear end of the body 12 with a suitable source of vacuum by means of a vacuum tube 114 air will be caused to move through the passage 14 from the inlet end 16 thereof outwardly of the outlet end 18 thereof. As the air passes through the passage 14, it will be diverted by the blades 100 of the stator turbine wheel 98 and caused to impinge upon the blades 106 of the turbine Wheel 104 at substantially right angles relative to the blades 106. This, of course, will cause the turbine wheel 106 to rotate in a clockwise direction as viewed from the inlet end of the passage 14 and thus impart rotation to the shaft 102. Rotation of the shaft 102 will of course effect oscillation of the lever 84 and in turn reciprocation of the cutter blade 64 relative to the cutter blade 62.

It will be noted that the trailing and leading edges of the blades 100 and 106 have but only slight clearance therebetween thereby enabling the adjacent ends of the blades 100 and 106 to effect a shearing action on any particles of hair passing through the passage 14.

If it is desired, the spider ring 24 may be replaced by an alternate ring such as that illustrated in FIGURE 9 and designated by the reference numeral 24. The ring 24' ditfers from the ring 24 only in that its outer peripheral portion is of considerably less axial extent than the outer peripheral portion of the ring 24. Of course, if the ring 24' is to be used, the axial extent of the groove 22 will be also reduced.

From FIGURES 3 and 6 of the drawings it may be seen that all but the portions 48 and 50 of the housing 30 at the forward end of the latter are spaced inwardly of the corresponding inner surfaces of the passage 14 and that the blade assembly 60 is disposed in the inlet end 16 of the passage 14 also in spaced relation relative to those portions of the body 12 defining the forward terminal end portions of the passage 14. Thus, any hair cut by the blade assembly 60 will be drawn into the passage 14. Of course, as the cut hair passes between the stator and rotating turbine wheels 98 and 104, it will be cut into finer particles by the shearing action of the blades 100 and 106.

Because of the unique manner in which the housing 30 is mounted within the passage 14 and the manner in which all of the turbine assembly comprising the turbine wheels 98 and 104 and the shaft 102 are supported from the housing 30, substantially all of the working parts of the vacuum actuated clipper construction 10 may be removed from within the body 12 merely by removing the two fasteners 44. In addition, inasmuch as the cutter blades 62 and 64 as well as the housing 30 are supported within the inlet end 16 of the passage 14 in substantially complete spaced relation relative to the inner surfaces of the body defining the passage 16, all of the hair cut by the cutter blades 62 and 64 will be drawn into the passage 14.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A vacuum actuated clipper construction comprising a hollow body defining a vacuum passage extending therethrough including an inlet end and an outlet end, said outlet end being adapted to be communicated with a suitable source of vacuum, a'clipper assembly including a first stationary, toothed cutting blade and a second toothed cutting blade supported from said assembly for oscillation relative to said first blade in coacting cutting relation therewith, means supporting said clipper assembly within said body and with the cutting blades thereof disposed at the inlet end of said passage, turbine means disposed in said passage operatively drivingly connected with said second blade and operative in response to a flow of air through said passage, to effect oscillation of said second blade relative to said first blade, said clipper assembly being removably supported in said body and removable therefrom outwardly of said inlet end of said passage, the driving connection between said turbine and said second blade including a lever pivotally supported intermediate its opposite ends from said clipper assembly, one end of said lever being oscillatably engaged with said second blade for oscillation therewith, said turbine means including a shaft journaled in said body on which a bladed turbine wheel is mounted for rotation therewith, coacting means carried by one end portion of said shaft and the other end of said lever operative to cause oscillation of said lever in response to rotation of said shaft, said shaft being journaled from said clipper assembly and being removable from said body, with said turbine wheel mounted thereon, with said clipper assembly through the inlet end of said passage, said turbine wheel being spaced longitudinally of said passage toward said outlet end thereof from said cutting blades and said clipper assembly including stator turbine blades disposed between said turbine wheel and said cutting blades, said stator blades and said turbine wheel blades being inclined oppositely relative to the longitudinal centerline of said passage.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said stator blades are tapered in thickness toward the inlet end of said passage. 7

3. A vacuum actuated clipper construction comprising a hollow body defining a vacuum passage extending therethrough including an inlet end and an outlet end, said outlet end being adapted to be communicated with a suitable source of vacuum, a clipper assembly including a first stationary, toothed cutting blade and a second toothed cutting blade supported from said assembly for oscillation relative to said first blade in coacting cutting relation therewith, means supporting said clipper assembly within said body and with the cutting blades thereof disposed at the inlet end of said passage, turbine means disposed in said passage operatively drivingly connected with said second blade and operative in response to a flow of air through said passage, to effect oscillation of said second blade relative to said first blade, said clipper assembly is removably supported in said body and is removable therefrom outwardly of said inlet end of said passage, the driving connection between said turbine and said second blade including a lever pivotally supported intermediate its opposite ends from said clipper assembly,

one end of said lever being oscillatably engaged with said second blade for oscillation therewith, said turbine means including a shaft journaled in said body on which a bladed turbine wheel is mounted for rotation therewith, coacting means carried by one end portion of said shaft and the other end of said lever operable to cause oscillation of said lever in response to rotation of said shaft, said outlet end of said passage including a terminal end portion of reduced cross sectional area, said turbine wheel including a diametrically reduced end portion projecting into said terminal end portion of said passage.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said terminal end of said passage includes a web portion defining a centrally disposed journal, the end of said shaft remote from said blades being journaled in said journal.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said stationary toothed blade is hingedly supported from said clipper assembly for rotation about an axis extending transversely of said passage and for swinging movement of the toothed portion of said stationary blade about said axis toward and away from the plane in which said second blade is oscillatable.

6. A vacuum actuated clipper construction comprising a hollow body defining a vacuum passage extending therethrough including an inlet end and an outlet end, said outlet end being adapted to be communicated with a suitable source of vacuum, a clipper assembly including relatively movable coacting cutting blades, means removably supporting said clipper assembly within said body with the cutting blades thereof disposed at the inlet end of said passage, turbine means disposed in said passage operatively drivingly connected with one of said blades and operative in response to a flow of air through said passage to cause movement of said one blade relative to the other blade, said turbine means including a shaft journaled in said body on which a bladed turbine wheel is mounted for rotation therewith and which is drivingly connected to said one blade, said turbine wheel being spaced longitudinally of said passage toward said outlet end thereof from said cutting blades and said clipper assembly including stator turbine blades disposed between said turbine wheel and said cutting blades, said stator blades and said turbine wheel blades being inclined oppositely relative to the longitudinal centerline of said passage, said stator blades being supported directly from said clipper assembly and being removable therewith outwardly of the inlet end of said passage.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,506,139 8/1924 Severson 30133 2,292,453 8/1942 La Mere 30133 X 2,789,786 4/1957 Melford et al 30-133 X 2,914,849 12/1959 Watkins 30-133 EDGAR W. GEOGHEGAN, Primary Examiner. 

